Homayoun Behzadi, Iranian footballer and coach, Died at 73

  Sports

Homayoun Behzadi was born on June 20, 1942, in Khorramabad, Lorestan Province and died on January 22, 2016.

He was an Iranian footballer and coach.

Homayoun usually played as a striker.

Behzadi first got into the Shahin side when he was only 16 years old.

He played for Shahin until 1966, due to financial problems Shahin had to close.

Homayoun is graduated in Persian languages.

In 1967, Homayoun changed to Paykan, then he changed to Persepolis in spring 1968.

Because of a heavy injury that took place in the 1968 Asian Cup, his contract was dissolved, and Behzadi went back to Peykan.

Homayoun won the Tehran Championship in 1970 before changing to Persepolis in 1970, he also won the Iranian league in 1972 as well as in 1974, the 1966 silver medal of the Asian Games in Thailand and the Asian Nations Cup with Iran in 1968 – when he scored 4 goals in 4 matches, also the equalizer in the final match, which led to 2–1 victory against Israel (and to become one of the tournament’s top scorer).

He also won the Asian Nations Cup with Iran in 1972.

Before his starting his coaching career, he trained Persepolis in the absence of manager Alan Rogers, when he was part of the team.

After Homayoun Behzadi retired in 1975, he became caretaker head coach of the club after the resignation of Rogers.

He starts a project in Persepolis that held in next years to decrease the age of the first team squad.

His first match as the Persepolis match was a friendly against Malavan which won 3–1. His first official match was a loose to Rah Ahan.

After that, Persepolis won and drew twice, then faced to the rivals, Taj (now Esteghlal) in Tehran derby.

He lost the match 3–1, but after the match, he claimed that Taj players drugs before the match.

It was later denied.

Homayoun Behzadi was banned for two months and was replaced with Buyuk Vatankhah.

Following him leaving Persepolis as head coach, he went on to become manager of Shahbaz B team for more than ten years.

Behzadi suffered a heart attack and was transferred to Tehran hospital in April 2013.

After just two days, Behzadi was transferred to Day hospital and his personal doctor announced that his general health is good.

Behzadi was released on May 12, 2013.

Homayoun Behzadi passed away at 73 yrs old.